Reuters AlertNet Lite - China quake-hit students get counselling for exam

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

China quake-hit students get counselling for exam

06 Jun 2007 03:51:51 GMT
Source: Reuters

BEIJING, June 6 (Reuters) - Students in a region of southwest China hit by an earthquake at the weekend have received psychological counselling to prepare them for this week's national university entrance exams, local media reported.

Around 180,000 people were displaced from their homes in the in the tea-producing region around Pu'er in Yunnan province following Sunday's quake that killed three people and injured 313.

A record 10 million Chinese students will sit the two-day exams, starting on Thursday, competing for about half that number of university places.

County authorities had also erected 80 tents as a precaution to allow the region's 679 students to finish the exam, in case aftershocks forced them to abandon the testing venue, a local middle school, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

The earthquake had had "definite impact" on local students, the deputy head of Ning'er Middle School told the paper, adding that students had received counselling from coaches to ease mental pressure.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised rapid reconstruction to residents driven out of their homes by the earthquake and the fear of aftershocks.

"I know that your biggest concern is when new houses will be built," the China Daily quoted Wen as saying.

"As I have said several times we will try our best to get through the reconstruction work as soon as possible."

Yunnan Vice Governor Kong Chuizhu said all residents would be moved into new houses by Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb. 7, 2008, the paper said.

Power supplies had been restored to most villages in the region and about 5,000 tents had been erected to house displaced residents, but 15,000 more were needed, Xinhua news agency said.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Topics

• Refugees & displacement

• Earthquakes

MORE >>

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• China profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Memories of Darfur haunt American physician: Missouri volunteer is among a handful of Americans working in the region
Medical Teams International - USA

• Christian Aid sets out checklist for viable solution to Middle East conflict
Christian Aid - UK

• Democratic Republic of the Congo: ICRC aids displaced people in North Kivu
ICRC - Switzerland

• Children Still Caught in Crossfire at Refugee Camp in Lebanon
Save the Children - International Alliance

• Displaced Palestinian refugees to receive more support
WV MEERO - Cyprus

MORE >>

Latest news

• China quake-hit students get counselling for exam

• Singapore bans sale of tainted China toothpaste

• China scientists "prove" tea can help fight obesity

• War anniversary revives bitter Palestinian memories

• China siblings charged for fake health food scam

MORE >>

Last updated:Wed Jun 6 03:53:15 2007